Swapping parts across 2 different laptops, P150EM, question

So there is a listing online with a reasonable price for a P150EM that has two components I've really wanted. Particularly an i7-3840QM and GTX 680M as well as a 95% NTSC matte display.

I never got those when first ordering my laptop because I didn't have the money. So now I'm thinking of buying his laptop (Sager NP9150/Clevo P150EM) and swapping out the GPU and CPU in mine (Sager NP9150/Clevo P150EM) and depending on the degree of difficulty the display and then reselling the laptop locally here at my university to recoup most of the money.

I'd be swapping out his GTX 680M for my GTX 675M and his i7-3840QM for my i7-3610QM. (and potentially the monitor and keyboard because I'd rather have 95% NTSC over 72% and my kb doesn't play well with the 'Q' or 'Num1' for some reason).

Is there anything I need to know about doing this or is it as simple as I'd expect, which is just swap out and repaste the parts (in regards to the GPU and CPU)? Also, is removing the screen difficult in a P150EM?

Thanks!

 

Is there any reason you don't want to swap your HDD/SDD and optical drive over to his laptop and use that? I should think that'd be a lot less work and less to worry about. Definitely sounds like a cheaper way to upgrade though!

 

I'm thinking about that. It would be fairly easy for me to just put my RAM and SSD in his laptop. Especially since I'm sure his touchpad is less worn and has all his rubber feet (middle back one somehow disappeared on mine). The only thing I've been thinking is if there are any underlying issues with his setup. Shouldn't be. I messaged him and he said he's never opened it up and not modified any firmware at all. The major difference, which to my understanding requires going through the display is wifi card antennas. I have an Intel N 6300 (3x3) and he has a Bigfoot 1202 + Bluetooth. So I would need to swap over an antenna. Albeit I have been contemplating picking up an Intel AC 7260 on Amazon which is also 2x2 + Bluetooth which would fix that problem. His laptop does have a Blu-Ray reader like mine so that's not an issue.

 

Maybe you can just run a day or two of stress tests on it when you get it, if it checks out swap over any of your parts and do it that way. Can use it as an excuse to get that new wifi card too

 

They all come with 3 antennas the 3rd one is just not connected.

 

The 7260 card is definitely worth considering. If you stick with the 6300 though, as Meaker pointed out, the third antenna is in the system already and is routed, too.

 

Ok, so I won the laptop for $1100. Here is his specs:
-15.6" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Sager Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080)
-Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (disc will be included)
-i7-3840QM (2.8GHz - 3.8GHz, 8MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) with IC diamond thermal compound
-nVidia GeForce GTX 680M
-16GB - DDR3 1600MHz
-128GB Crucial M4 mSATA SSD (OS Drive)
-750GB 7200RPM
-6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive
-Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
-Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1202 + Bluetooth 4.0
-Back lit keyboard

My specs are in my sig. It just occurred to me that his OS is pro and so is mine. I was worried I couldn't bring my HDD over to his system because usually OEM OS's are locked to the mobo. I have Windows 7 Pro (OEM) and Windows 8 Pro (Upgrade). I assume I cannot put my Windows 8 Pro onto his laptop since the key has been locked down to mine (or at least so I think). I could buy just 8.1 Pro (Upgrade) from my university (which would be nice as I would be dodging the whole Upgrade through windows store on reinstalls aspect) (its only $35 so not too worried).

So, our only differences seem to be the monitor, GPU, CPU (which all 3 I want), RAM, Storage, Wifi (which of mine I want to keep). He said there was a small blemish on the lid so I'll have to check that out, but my touchpad has visible wear in a location and the left click, I've lost the back center rubber foot and center left display rubber stopper. Also a small piece of plastic on the backplate near a screw seems to have disappeared. So, from the sounds of it, I should just probably swap out my RAM, SSD, and Wifi card for his gizmos.

Can anyone comment on the whole OEM and Upgrade OS aspect as far as swapping harddrives over to new laptops? Chances are I'm reinstalling my OS chain after this (especially since I'm considering upgrading to an 500GB EVO).

Also, transferring over displays. I guess this one is for the notebook retailers. How difficult is it to disassemble to monitor to access the screen itself for transferring?

There's also the chance I decide against the better display (if in case I don't care for something on the colors or just because the fact that my external monitor I believe is also only 72%). How do I remove the GPU card from the MXM slot? I've repasted my GPU before but removing only the core heat sink is easy. For some reason though the heatsink over the vRAM sticks really tight and I decided not to remove it for fear of damaging something. Any tips or how hard of force I should apply? The last thing I want to do is damage something and be out a load of money due to my own error.

Thanks!!!

 

If the hardware is the same the license will stick. Worst case is you have to phone reactivate it, but sager don't i'm bed the bios like other manufacturers as their systems are sold without an os.

 

Yup you're not swapping anything that should require windows to complain about it